But what causes people to be suicidal in the first place? In my experience, feeling like they don't matter. Apps by themselves can't do anything about that feeling, yes.
But apps are used by people. And apps can help put you in touch with people who can change your life. Who can help you understand that you are important.
Apps can also put you in touch with yourself, and help you grasp your own context.
Perhaps this specific app will work, perhaps it won't, but writing off any and all apps seems a bit premature.
Also, while this specific app may not be able to help, doesn't it seem at least possible that some app, some day might? It seems prematurely dismissive to write apps off as wholly ineffectual. Unless suicide is a case where you're likely to do more harm than good?
That depends a lot on context. In some cases, yes.
>What if the app carries out similar functions as a hotline?
Who would you talk to? A volunteer? What happens when 4chan gets their hands on this app?
>Unless suicide is a case where you're likely to do more harm than good
See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6757098
As for displaying a hotline number, you can find that information on Google. Literally search "suicide" and the first thing listed is a phone number you can call for help. If the app is just a number of a suicide hotline, then it's a pretty pointless app.
What may be more useful is a collection of services and communities (ie. suicide hotlines by state/country, communities like /r/SuicideWatch, general information). However, that sounds a lot like a website and not an app.